March 08, 2014

Arizona universities are working together to turn the state’s waste
to gold – or at least renewable fuel. As part of an Arizona Board of
Regents funded project, students and researchers from Arizona State
University, Northern Arizona University and the University of Arizona
are collaborating to grow algae using wastewater. The algae can then be
harvested to create fuel, feed and food products.

The collaboration is designed to advance the application of algae in
Arizona as an industry to produce valuable products and remediate
wastewater, and to educate and develop a workforce to support the
industry. The goal is to maximize Arizona’s resources.

On March 7, the public is invited to learn about the on-going
projects at each university. The University of Arizona will host a
public forum to present student work and projects which range from
aquaculture to the study of algal DNA and the use of saline waters to
grow algae.

This event follows the initial public presentation held at NAU on
November 2, 2013 which introduced the variety of projects that Arizona
university students are focusing on to advance Arizona’s algaculture.

“It was a great first meeting,” says Terry Baxter, associate
professor of civil and environmental engineering at NAU. “The students
not only gave wonderful presentations about their work in a public
setting, but they have become much more aware of how important it is to
work together across the three institutions.” In addition to informing
the public, these meetings also allow researchers from each of the
public institutions to share information, generate and discuss new
ideas, and develop new approaches that can ultimately advance the work
that is being done in Arizona.

Arizona serves as an ideal location for algae research with expansive
non-arable land suitable for algae farms and more than 330 sunny days
per year to encourage algae growth through photosynthesis. More than 40
algae-related enterprises are located throughout the state, including
industries stemming from university research.

The project is funded by the Arizona Board of Regents Technology and Research Initiative Fund (TRIF).